If you want to go canyoning in Salzburg, two tours top the list: the Almbachklamm and the Strubklamm. Both are first-class gorges, both are in our programme – but they are fundamentally different. This head-to-head comparison helps you pick the right one for your group instead of booking at random.
The quick comparison
| Feature | Almbachklamm | Strubklamm |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Beginner (easy) | Intermediate – sporty |
| Minimum age | 10 years | 16 years |
| Duration | approx. 2 hours | approx. 3–4 hours |
| Region | Tennengau (Hallein/Adnet) | Salzkammergut (Ebenau/Faistenau) |
| Highest jumps | up to approx. 4 m | up to 10 m |
| Character | playful, calm, family-friendly | sporty, intense, action-focused |
| Requirements | swimming + basic fitness | swimming + good fitness + no serious fear of heights |
| Ideal for | families, first-timers | sporty groups, stag/hen parties |
The Almbachklamm in detail
The Almbachklamm lies in the Tennengau near Hallein/Adnet and is THE entry-level tour in Salzburg. Its character: playful. Gentle jumps, natural water slides, crystal-clear pools for swimming, short descents. No sections where anyone has to push past their limits – yet enough highlights that even a 12-year-old won't get bored.
- Plus: From age 10 – making it family-friendly
- Plus: Approx. 2 hours of touring – fits into half a day with a city visit afterwards
- Plus: Jumps stay optional and small – nobody has to
- Minus: Possibly too tame for very sporty adults
The Strubklamm in detail
The Strubklamm between Faistenau and Tiefbrunnau near Ebenau in the Salzkammergut is a different league. Jumps of 4, 6, 8 up to a maximum of 10 metres, several abseiling sections, narrow water channels through polished rock. This tour is addictive – but it is not for families with younger children and not for people with a pronounced fear of heights.
- Plus: One of Salzburg's most spectacular gorges
- Plus: Jumps at different heights – everyone finds their own limit
- Plus: Ideal for stag/hen parties, club outings, sporty groups of friends
- Minus: From age 16, so no family event with younger kids
- Minus: A 3–4 hour tour – plan for a full half-day
Which tour fits which occasion?
Family holiday with kids (10–15)
Clearly the Almbachklamm. The minimum age fits, the experience is intense enough that parents get their money's worth too, but nobody is overwhelmed.
Stag or hen party
Clearly the Strubklamm – provided everyone in the party is at least 16, reasonably fit and a confident swimmer. If some people fear heights or are less sporty, go for the Almbachklamm instead. More on the canyoning stag party.
Your first canyoning experience as an adult
If you have never been canyoning: Almbachklamm. It is not "kids' stuff" – it is the serious entry-level tour that lets you test the experience before you take on the Strubklamm. More in the beginners' guide.
You've been canyoning before – and want more
The Strubklamm is exactly for you. More action, higher jumps, a more intense experience. If you already know the Strubklamm too and are looking for the next step, ask us about the Grabenbach (Jabron).
Company outing / team event
Depends on the crew. If the team is young and sporty: Strubklamm. If a mixed team of different age groups is coming: Almbachklamm – so everyone can join in.
Can you combine both tours?
Yes, and it's very popular. If you're in Salzburg for 2 days: day 1 Almbachklamm (to warm up), day 2 Strubklamm (with day 1's experience under your belt). It works the other way round too, but after the Strubklamm the Almbachklamm feels subjectively "small" – so better to go from easy to hard. For a 2-day booking there's also a group rate – just ask us.
Make your decision – and book
Our short answer if you really can't decide: if in doubt, take the Almbachklamm. Nobody regrets it. Those who want more action already know it and go for the Strubklamm.
Drop us a line – we'll help you decide:
Phone: +43 650 796 21 20
Email: [email protected]
More canyoning guides
- Canyoning Salzburg: the most beautiful gorges – which tour suits whom?
- Canyoning for beginners – everything you need to know before your first tour
- How much does canyoning cost? – prices, what's included and what to look out for
- Canyoning stag party – stag party in Salzburg: action instead of a booze-up
- Best time for canyoning in Salzburg – month by month: water, weather, conditions
- Directions & meeting points from Salzburg – how to find the gorge: parking, travel, tips
- Canyoning safety: what really matters – how we minimise risk: standards, gear, conduct
- Give a canyoning voucher – the outdoor gift for birthdays, weddings & more
- What to wear canyoning? Clothing & equipment – the honest checklist: what we provide, what you bring
- Canyoning with kids – the family guide to the first tour
Frequently asked questions
Is the Strubklamm more dangerous?
"More dangerous" is the wrong word. It is more demanding. With a trained guide and honest self-assessment it is just as safe as the Almbachklamm – participants simply need to bring more to the table (fitness, confident swimming, a head for heights).
Does the Strubklamm cost more than the Almbachklamm?
Usually yes – it takes longer (roughly 1–2 hours more), has more technical sections and demands more of the guide. Both tours sit within the usual Salzburg market range, though. Details in the price guide.
What if one person in the group doesn't want to do the Strubklamm?
Then you do the Almbachklamm. A tour where someone is pressured into coming along is not a good tour – not for that person, not for the group and not for the guide. Better to do the "easier" tour together.
Are the jumps in the Strubklamm mandatory?
No. For most jumps we have alternative routes via abseiling or climbing. But: if you skip every jump, the Strubklamm may have been the wrong choice – in that case the Almbachklamm is the better fit.
Which tour has the more beautiful water?
A matter of taste. In high season the Almbachklamm carries less water and looks greener. The Strubklamm often has more water and narrower, water-sculpted passages. Both are scenically superb.